The Carolina Panthers head to EverBank Field to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, August 24, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Jacksonville as 1 point favorites. The total has been set at 43.5. The Panthers were 6-9-1 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 7-8-1. The Jaguars were 8-8-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 10-6-0.

The Carolina Panthers were 15th in the National Football League in points scored with 369 last year. They ran 1,052 plays for 5,499 yards, which ranked them 19th in the NFL in total offense. The Panthers averaged 5.2 yards per play, which was 24th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 318 1st downs last season, ranking them 20th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Carolina ran for 1,814 yards as a unit, which ranked 10th in the league. They ran 453 times, averaging 4 yards per rush as a unit. The Panthers were penalized on offense 98 times for 835 yards last year, which had them 26th in the NFL in penalties. Cam Newton passed for 3,509 yards last year. He completed 270 throws while attempting 510 passes for a completion percentage of 52.9%. His quarterback rating last season was 75.8 and his QBR was 53.1. He averaged 13.0 yards per completion and 6.9 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Carolina was 26th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 402. They gave up a total of 5,756 yards on D, which was 21st in the league. The Panthers were 23rd in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Their pass defense allowed 6.5 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 22nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 409 throws on 612 attempts against the Carolina Panthers defense last season, ranking them 30th and 28th in the league. The Carolina pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,291 yards in the air, which was 29th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 376 attempts for 1,465 yards last season, putting them in 6th place in the NFL against the run. The Panthers had 112 penalties for 907 yards on defense last year. That placed them 12th in the league. They allowed a score on 36.2% of possessions on defense, which was 19th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Carolina was 20th in the NFL in punt returns with 29 last year. They totaled 202 punt return yards and averaged 7 yards per return, which was 23rd in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 19 yards. They returned 37 kicks for 828 yards on special teams, placing them 11th in kick return yardage. The Panthers averaged 22.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 59 yards last season. They were 17th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,806. The Carolina Panthers tried 38 field goals last season and made 30, which was 9th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 78.9%. Carolina Panthers kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 31 for 34 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,481 yards on 76 punts, averaging 29 yards per punt. That ranked them 15th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Jacksonville Jaguars ran for 1,631 yards as a team last year, which ranked 22nd in the NFL. They ran 392 times, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Jaguars were penalized on offense 129 times for 1,187 yards last season, which had them 2nd in the league in penalties. They were 25th in the NFL in points scored with 318. They ran 1,052 plays last season for 5,359 yards, which ranked them 23rd in the league in total offense. The Jaguars averaged 5.1 yards per play, which was 26th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 321 1st downs last year, placing them 19th overall as an offensive unit. Blake Bortles averaged 6.2 yards per pass attempt and 10.6 yards per completion last season. He completed 368 passes on 625 attempts for a completion percentage of 58.9%. His QBR last year was 49.2 while is quarterback rating was 78.8. He threw for 3,905 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Jaguars rush defense allowed 446 attempts for 1,703 yards last year, putting them in 19th place in the league against the run. Jacksonville committed 101 penalties for 948 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 19th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 39.3% of possessions on defense, which was 24th in the league. They were 25th in the league in points allowed on defense with 400. They surrendered a total of 5,147 yards on D, which was 6th in the NFL. The Jaguars were ranked 3rd in yards per play allowed with 5. Their pass defense gave up 5.9 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 5th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 345 passes on 551 attempts against the Jacksonville defense last season, placing them 11th and 13th in the National Football League. The Jacksonville Jaguars pass defense also gave up a total of 3,444 yards through the air, which was 5th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Jacksonville Jaguars attempted 34 field goals last season and made 27, which was 17th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 79.4%. Jacksonville kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 29 for 32 last year. Their punters totaled 3,589 yards on 77 punts, averaging 40 yards per punt. That placed them 8th in the NFL in punting average. Jacksonville was ranked 5th in the league in punt returns last season with 40. They accumulated 220 punt return yards and averaged 5.5 yards per return, which was 32nd in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 42 yards. They returned 37 kicks for 881 yards on special teams, ranking 8th in kick return yardage. The Jaguars averaged 23.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 100 yards last year. They were 22nd in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,657.

Who will win tonight's Panthers/Jaguars NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Jaguars -1

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